Comparing Oz to Los Angeles or anywhere else (perhaps apart from NZ) is invalid as there are too many lifestyle/seasonal/ease or difficulty of shutting off international border closure differences. For instance, many Europeans and UK residents spend far more time indoors than we do, so 'close contacts' are accentuated and magnified in number, including in numerous share households such as one finds in London. We don't have the super harsh winters experienced by many overseas. Despite supposed Aussie larrikanism, we are more compliant with restrictions than laissez-faire USA residents (although arguably nations like South Korea and Taiwan are the most compliant of all in democracies).
Scomo terminated international flights from mainland China and IIRC elsewhere as early as 1 February 2020. This was a really important decision that saved many lives in our land.
The 'management of people returning to the country' is for the states.
NSW initially did poorly (Ruby Princess) but learnt its lesson.
Victoria completely mucked up hotel quarantine and was chronically unable to learn from that disaster for many months. Its restrictions were the harshest in Australia. Compare the adverse effects on its economy of lockdowns and the infamous curfew with the general 'economic and social freedom' emphasised in NSW.
About 820 dead in Victoria thus far compared with fewer than 100 in all the other states and territories combined speaks volumes about Daniel Andrews' incompetence, arrogance and refusal to take responsibility (likewise, none of his current Ministers have taken any blame) 'I don't recall' seems to be their theme song when asked about numerous unacceptable events caused by government bungling. Ask Jenny Mikakos, the former Minister for Health in Victoria!
No wonder Daniel Andrews got such a stern rebuke from Alan Joyce in the last 24 hours. Richly deserved, as Mr Joyce made many telling points.
Mr Andrews' constant, much discussed failures are causing QAN to lose many more millions than would have been the case had Victoria matched NSW's level of preparedness and administrative competence. Just today we have two COVID-19 cases among 77 tennis players/officials on board a Qatar Airways chartered flight from Los Angeles to Melbourne, so preparations for the Australian Open are thrown into chaos.
(20min delay)